Tips, Trends & Living

Tips, Trends & Living

Which Documents Should You Shred, and When?

As the spring cleaning bug hits, many of us will finally be tackling those stacks of paperwork that have been piling up throughout the year. It’s tempting to chuck it all in the recycle bin and be done with it. However, did you know that it’s actually legal for someone to dig through your trash/recycling […]
Community, Tips, Trends & Living

Property Tax Relief Programs in King County

More than 26,000 low-income seniors and disabled people in King County who qualify for a tax exemption haven’t claimed it…are you or your family member one of them? If you are homeowner, make $58k or less per year, and are either age 61+ or retired due to disability, there is a good chance you qualify. […]
Tips, Trends & Living

Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

A clever person solves a problem; a wise person avoids it. As the days shorten, you can mitigate many mid-winter headaches with some preemptive prep. Proper weatherizing can help protect your home from preventable damage, save money on energy costs, and, most importantly, keep you and your loved ones safe and warm throughout the winter […]
Tips, Trends & Living

10 Tips for Sustainable Gardening

Sunny days are finally here, the flowers are in bloom, and the timing is perfect to give your garden some love. Having a healthy garden is one of the best ways to create a sustainable home and reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Below are some eco-friendly tips that will help to make your garden even […]

Tips, Trends & Living Which Documents Should You Shred, and When? As the spring cleaning bug hits, many of us will finally be tackling those stacks of paperwork that have been piling up throughout the year. It’s tempting to chuck it all in the recycle bin and be done with it. However, did you know that it’s actually legal for someone to dig through your trash/recycling […]

Community Property Tax Relief Programs in King County More than 26,000 low-income seniors and disabled people in King County who qualify for a tax exemption haven’t claimed it…are you or your family member one of them? If you are homeowner, make $58k or less per year, and are either age 61+ or retired due to disability, there is a good chance you qualify. […]

Tips, Trends & Living Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist A clever person solves a problem; a wise person avoids it. As the days shorten, you can mitigate many mid-winter headaches with some preemptive prep. Proper weatherizing can help protect your home from preventable damage, save money on energy costs, and, most importantly, keep you and your loved ones safe and warm throughout the winter […]

Tips, Trends & Living 10 Tips for Sustainable Gardening Sunny days are finally here, the flowers are in bloom, and the timing is perfect to give your garden some love. Having a healthy garden is one of the best ways to create a sustainable home and reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Below are some eco-friendly tips that will help to make your garden even […]

Real Estate Should You Remodel or Sell Your Home As Is? Homeowners who are preparing to sell are often faced with a dilemma about whether to remodel or sell their home in its current state. Each approach has its respective advantages and disadvantages. If you decide to remodel your home, it will likely sell for more; but the increased selling price will come at the cost […]

Tips, Trends & Living 2022 Home Trends Hello 2022! Life in the new normal goes on, and with it continues a trend toward all things natural and nostalgic. We’re still seeing the Scandinavian concept of “hygge” live on in warm accents and cozy textiles, but with a newer emphasis on “perfect imperfection” (known as “wabi-sabi” in traditional Japanese art). Irregular curves, handmade […]

Tips, Trends & Living Pro Lighting Tips to Brighten Your Home As we approach the darkest days of the year, a few tweaks in your interior lighting scheme can brighten your home (and your mood) from the inside out. Here are some great tips from Real Simple for a lighting scheme that is flattering and functional… Use a combo of overhead and up lighting for […]

Real Estate Protect Your Investment: 5 Fall Maintenance To-Do’s Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While he was talking about fire safety, I think it applies equally well to home maintenance. One weekend of prevention this fall can save you many headaches (and a lot of money) down the road. Here are a few ideas to […]

Community 2021 Football Schedules, Recipes & Tips… Are you ready for some football? Fall is just around the corner and tickets are on sale now for 12s who are itching to get back to the stadium (operating at full capacity this season but with enhanced safety protocols). Watching the game from the comfort of home? Check out these great tips on setting […]

Tips, Trends & Living The Four Phases of Remodeling As with anything in life, a remodeling project can come with its ups and downs. Certain phases seem to go a mile a minute, while others feel like they’ve lasted a lifetime and a half, all while it looks as though nothing is being completed. Fear not—this is pretty typical. And, while every project is […]

Tips, Trends & Living 2021 Home Trends Ready for a fresh start in 2021? With home still the place to be, refreshing your indoor and outdoor living spaces can make a big difference in your everyday life. The stresses and challenges of 2020 have influenced the trends of 2021 with a turn toward comfort, nostalgia and independent spaces to work and play… […]

Community Safe Holiday Events Around Seattle Have some holiday cheer, 2020 style! While traditional gatherings may be off the table, you can still make the most of the season with a new take on these favorite local events. Safety is foremost with virtual platforms or a combo of social distancing & mask protocols. Just be sure to reserve your tickets early […]

Community Give Back This Season In his poem, When Giving Is All We Have, Alberto Álvaro Ríos wrote, “We give because someone gave to us. We give because nobody gave to us. We give because giving has changed us. We give because giving could have changed us.” With need especially keen this year during the pandemic, many of us […]

Tips, Trends & Living Payback times for energy-efficient home upgrades Thinking of going green? Today’s technology offers a whole host of ways to boost your home’s efficiency, reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills. Some upgrades can pay for themselves in a relatively short amount of time, while others with large price tags might take decades to start paying back. The good […]

Tips, Trends & Living COVID-19 Resources Make Working From Home Work for You… 5 Small Things You Can Do to Improve Your Home Office WRE’s “Work from Home” Spotify playlist Working remote tips from Time Magazine Staying productive during the coronavirus while managing stress/anxiety/fear Making the perfect office to work from home Kids at Home? Information about how to […]

Tips, Trends & Living 2020 Home Trends With 2020 now in full swing, we’re seeing some clear shifts in how homes are being designed and decorated. Most notable for our area is the Modern Farmhouse trend with its juxtapositions of old & new, light & dark, and clean & rustic. Softer grey and lagom neutrals are here to stay, but are […]

Tips, Trends & Living Remodeling Cost vs. Value Every year, Remodeling Magazine evaluates which projects bring the most return at resale in different markets around the country in their “Cost vs. Value” report. While returns have dipped nationwide due to growing costs and consumer anxiety, Seattle still saw better pay-off on remodeling than the national average. The chart below shows cost vs. […]

Tips, Trends & Living Planning for the Life Expectancy of Your Home Nothing in life lasts forever – and the same can be said for your home. From the roof to the furnace, every component of your home has a lifespan, so it’s a good idea to know approximately how many years of service you can expect from them. This information can help when buying or […]

Tips, Trends & Living Preparing Your Garage for an Electric Car Electric cars help lower emissions and fuel costs, improve fuel economy, and bolster energy security. And considering the volatility of gas prices—and their general skyward trajectory—electric fuel shows promise as an economic alternative. But switching to an electric vehicle entails more than new driving habits and a conversation piece with strangers. It’s also a […]

Tips, Trends & Living Should I Move or Remodel? There are a number of things that can trigger the decision to remodel or move to a new home. Perhaps you have outgrown your current space, you might be tired of struggling with ancient plumbing or wiring systems, or maybe your home just feels out of date. The question is: Should you stay or […]